In 1st Corinthians 15:9-11 there are four things Paul lists that Jesus changed upon revealing Himself to Paul that could not be explained any other way than that Jesus had risen from the dead:
1Vs. 9 “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”: A deep recognition of personal sin. Paul left Jerusalem with a deep conviction and personal hatred of anything Christian, and outside Damascus, ended up with a personal hatred of his own sin. What else could explain such a radical change than Paul having an encounter with the very One whom he hated and believed was dead but was instead alive and in love with him? Notice that Paul does not seek to minimize his actions, instead choosing to call himself unworthy to be called one that is to be sent out. There was never a day that he did not regret his actions that had caused so much pain and suffering in others.
2Vs. 10a “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain”: A complete change of character. From persecutor of the church to defender of the faith, from hatred to love. Paul did not just have a meltdown; he was recreated completely. Three times in this section, Paul attributes this change to the “grace of God.” It was Christ’s unmerited favor that so changed his life.
3Vs. 10b “But I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”: A complete redirection of focus. All of his life had been geared towards the zeal that was found in the law. In fact, to the Philippians, Paul would write, saying concerning his former life, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Then he continues, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness.”
4Vs. 11 “Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed”: Finally, a practical humility. From pride and arrogance to that of just wanting Jesus to be seen and known by all whom he came into contact with. Paul understood that the power was in the Person of the message and not in the personality of the messenger.
Oh to God that we will live this evidence of the resurrection by allowing Jesus to be seen alive in us in these four ways!